The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat poster

The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat

7.1(556)18961m2

A group of people are standing along the platform of a railway station in La Ciotat, waiting for a train. One is seen coming, at some distance, and eventually stops at the platform. Doors of the railway-cars open and attendants help passengers off and on. Popular legend has it that, when this film was shown, the first-night audience fled the café in terror, fearing being run over by the "approaching" train. This legend has since been identified as promotional embellishment, though there is evidence to suggest that people were astounded at the capabilities of the Lumières' cinématographe.

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Status
Released
Budget
—
Box office
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Language
No Language
  • france
  • cinema on cinema
  • beginning
  • black and white
  • train
  • railway station
  • early cinema
  • short film

Top billed cast

Behind the camera

Produced in

France

Gallery

Still from The Arrival of a Train at La CiotatStill from The Arrival of a Train at La CiotatStill from The Arrival of a Train at La CiotatStill from The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat

Videos

Release dates

  • United StatesUS

    • Theatrical30 Jun 1896
  • CzechiaCZ

    • TheatricalUPart of Svět v obraze15 Oct 2026
  • FranceFR

    • PremiereThis was the first time a version of this was shown. That one was titled "L’Arrivée en gare d’un chemin de fer". This is not the catalogued version that is most famous. That one was shown in 1897. Source: https://catalogue-lumiere.com/arrivee-train-a-la-ciotat/25 Jan 1896
    • Theatrical (limited)https://catalogue-lumiere.com/arrivee-train-a-la-ciotat/10 Oct 1897
  • MexicoMX

    • Theatrical20 Oct 1897
  • South KoreaKR

    • Theatrical10 Oct 1897

Frequently asked questions

The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat was released on 30 June 1896.

Audience reviews

1
  • Z

    Zepfanman

    3/25/2022

    This famous film was ACTUALLY MADE IN 1897, Lumière catalogue #653: https://catalogue-lumiere.com/arrivee-train-a-la-ciotat/ People have studied the age of the Lumière children from several of their Ciotat train films and this uncatalogued version is more likely from 1896: youtu.be/1dgLEDdFddk With that aside, the 4K restoration from the 2015 Blu-ray of the 1897 film is gorgeous! The Lumière brothers were maste…

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